SpaceX to Test Internet Service Satellites: Analysis

aNewDomain— Like you, we’ve kept an eye on Elon Musk’s and Greg Wyler’s ventures to launch a global Internet service through constellations of low-earth-orbit satellites that will provide quick long-distance links.

The Application

The submitted application requests permission to launch two identical Ku-band downlink satellites, possibly built in the form-factor of CubeSats. The satellites, if approved, will be built with an expected lifetime of six to 12 months and orbit at 625 kilometers.

According to the application, the launch objective is to:

To validate the design of a broadband antenna communications platform (primary payload) that will lead to the final LEO constellation design using three broadband array test ground stations positioned along the western coast of the US.”

Hopefully these tests will culminate in a revised, and possibly final, version of the SpaceX ground stations and satellites. It’s still unclear how soon the project might be ready to deploy, but SpaceX is the first out of the gate in the satellite constellation Internet service race.